Ten members of Da Nang's largest fake diploma ring were sentenced Tuesday to a maximum of three years in jail.

Dang Tuan Anh, a 57-year-old printing technician, received the highest punishment for directly making the diplomas under orders, and later running his own operation around the central city.

The indictment said he was first hired by Tran Ngoc Anh, 61, in 2004 to produce frames for fake certificates and diplomas for between VND20,000-600,000 (US$1-28) apiece.

Ngoc Anh then made the fake stamps and signatures himself and provided the completed diplomas to Doan Sy Nguyen, 31, for VND3 million ($141) apiece. Nguyen charged customers more than fourfold that price.

Nguyen received an 18-month suspended sentence; Ngoc Anh was sentenced to two years in prison.